What is the purpose of a newspaper article?



Evaluating languageEvaluating language means deciding if the writer has used language effectively for his or her purpose.In?Higher English close reading, there are two passages. Often, candidates are asked to evaluate both passages in terms of language and ideas, and then explain which article they found to be more effective in each area. The question usually requires that you look at both language?and?ideas.However, you may be asked to evaluate only language in a separate question or as part of an?analysis?(A) question. When you have a question that asks you to evaluate you must decide how well the author's use of language helps further their purpose.Below is an example of a typical evaluation question on language. The author is arguing that the government should clamp down on large companies avoiding tax on their profits.What is the purpose of a newspaper article?Nearly all the?Higher English close reading?passages were originally newspaper or magazine articles. There are different types of newspaper articles. However, for?Higher English close reading, the type that concerns us are those found in the?Comment?section of newspapers. They are opinion pieces by authors who are trying to use argument and language to persuade us to their point of view. Their purpose is to persuade us. They are the types of articles regularly used by the SQA for their?Higher English close readingpapers.Ideas can be used to appeal to people's reason. Language is used to convey those ideas in a way thay appeals to people's emotions. By using literary techniques, a writer can have an impact on the reader and be more persuasive.It is important that a writer uses literary techniques that are appropriate to the subject matter and the purpose of the article. Persuading people to support a serious matter like a war or a military intervention, or serious issues like abortion, euthanasia or the death penalty should not be done using humour (unless satirically ironic).What is effective?For an evaluation question in?Higher English close reading, you have to understand the purpose of passage and decide if the author's use of?techniques?is appropriate and effective in furthering the aim of you agreeing with him or her.Whatever you decide, you have to be able to justify with an explanation and plausible reasons. There is a fairly straightforward formula you an use for evaluation questions:??? understand the purpose of the article the question is on?? decide if you find the?literary techniques?persuasive?? start your answer by identifying a literary technique??? explain the effects of the literary technique?? judge (explain) why this was an effective use of the techniqueExample:Politicians have toadied around the issue too long. We have allowed them to slither their way around those powerful companies that do not pay their taxes as they hope to enjoy the crumbs from their table. Meanwhile, the tax authorities are left to enjoy unpopularity and uselessness. Like tamed, de-fanged adders the taxman has become the house pets of powerful businesses: they may cause a slight anxiety when allowed out but they are entirely harmless.QuestionHow effective do you find the author's use of language?2 marks (E)AnswerThe author uses word choice with 'toadied'. This creates an image of a politician as slimy and trying to gain the good opinion of business for their own needs. It gives a feeling of repulsive behaviour.?(1)?It gets across the point that politicians have acted as people lacking moral character and having allowed an injustice to be committed by these businesses.?(1)?Method:→? identify the technique→? explain the connotations in terms of ideas, images or feelings→? explain why it is effective in terms of the writer's purpose→? add more techniques if there are more marks available and follow the above stepsEvaluating ideasEvaluating means judging. In an evaluation question, you will have to justify your judgement. In?Higher English close reading, there are two passages. Often, candidates are asked to evaluate both passages in terms of language and ideas, and then explain which article they found to be more effective in each area. The question usually requires that you look at both?language?and?ideas.This means understanding the purpose of each passage and then deciding which set of ideas was more effective in fulfilling the author's purpose.A candidate will have to explain with plausible reasons their choice i.e. you are being asked to justify your choice. If your choice is explained well, then you receive the marks.What is the purpose of a newspaper article?Nearly all the Higher English close reading passages were originally newspaper or magazine articles. There are different types of newspaper articles. However, for?Higher English close reading, the type that concerns us are those found in the?Comment?section of newspapers. They are opinion pieces by authors who are trying to use argument and language to persuade us to their point of view. Their purpose is to persuade us. They are the types of articles regularly used by the SQA for their?Higher English close reading papers.When we know that this is the purpose of each close reading text then we have to ask another question: how effective is it?What is effective?How do you judge if an idea is effective? If it was a newspaper article intended for a wide readership, then it could be judged effective if thousands were persuaded. However, this is an exam. The only person to be persuaded is you, so you have to decide if you find the ideas in a particular passage more persuasive and, if you do, explain why you find each idea persuasive with a plausible reason.You can use the following approach:??? understand the purpose of each article?? decide which article you find the most persuasive?? identify a couple of ideas that you find effective?? explain why those ideas are persuasive ................
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